Abstract
The rich and interconnected universe of Śākya Mchog Ldan’s views, including those on the buddha-essence, cannot be limited to or summarized in a few neat categories. Nevertheless, the following two interrelated ideas are crucial for understanding Śākya Mchog Ldan’s interpretation of the buddha-essence:
1) only Mahāyāna āryas (’phags pa) have the buddha-essence characterized by the purity from adventitious stains (glo bur rnam dag);
2) the buddha-essence is inseparable from the positive qualities (yon tan, guṇa) of a buddha;
In his writings, Śākya Mchog Ldan argues against identifying the buddha-essence as a mere natural purity (rang bzhin rnam dag), i.e., the state of natural freedom from obscurations as it is taught in the Middle or Second Wheel of Doctrine (chos ’khor, dharmacakra) and its commentaries. The buddha-essence has to be posited as inseparability from positive qualities of a buddha.
Śākya Mchog Ldan approaches the buddha-essence inseparable from positive qualities of a buddha in two ways. In some texts, such as the Essence of Sūtras and Tantras, he argues that it has to be identified only as purity from adventitious stains, i.e., the removal of all or some negative qualities that prevent one from directly seeing the buddha-essence. In other texts, such as The Sun Unseen Before, he interprets it as the purity from adventitious stains and the natural purity as it is taught in some sūtras of the Third Wheel of Doctrine and their commentaries. That type of natural purity is understood as the state of natural freedom from all obscurations inseparable from positive qualities of a buddha. Thereby, in this second type of texts, Śākya Mchog Ldan arrives at positing two types of the buddha-essence: relative (kun rdzob, saṃvṛti) and ultimate (don dam, paramārtha). Despite different interpretations of the natural purity, the identification of the buddha-essence as the purity from adventitious stains is present in both.
In his interpretation of the buddha-essence, Śākya Mchog Ldan utilizes the categories of the three levels found in the Sublime Continuum: the impure (ma dag, aśuddha), impure-pure (ma dag dag pa, aśuddhaśuddha, i.e. partially pure) and very pure (shin tu rnam dag, suviśuddha) levels that correspond respectively to the categories of sentient beings, bodhisattvas (understood as ārya bodhisattvas in this context), and tathāgatas. Śākya Mchog Ldan argues that one becomes a possessor of the buddha-essence free from adventitious stains only on the impure-pure level. In other words, when bodhisattvas enter the Mahāyāna Path of Seeing (mthong lam, darśanamārga) simultaneously with the attainment of the first boddhisattva ground (byang chub sems pa’i sa, bodhisattavabhūmi)of Utmost Joy (rab tu dga’ ba, pramuditā), they become āryas, i.e. ‘exalted’ or ‘superior’, bodhisattvas, directly realize the ultimate truth (don dam bden pa, paramārthasatya), and thereby for the first time generate an antidote to obscurations of knowables (shes bya’i sgrib pa, jñeyāvaraṇa). They start gradually removing them, and thereby actually see at least a partial purification of stains ‘covering’ the buddha-essence, and its inseparability from at least some positive qualities. Such is not possible for anyone below that level, even for the non-Mahāyāna arhats (i.e., śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas). Thus, only Mahāyāna āryas have the buddha-essence characterized by the purity from adventitious stains; ārya bodhisattvas have only a part of it, while buddhas have it completely.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sūtras and tantras
Hevajra Tantra (Hevajratantrarājanāma, Kye’i rdo rje zhes bya ba rgyud kyi rgyal po), D417, rgyud, nga, 1b–30a.
Descent into Laṅkā Sūtra (Āryalaṅkāvatāramahāyānasūtra, ’Phags pa lang kar gshegs pa’i theg pa chen po’i mdo), D 107, mdo sde, ca, 56a–191b.
Great Nirvāṇa Sūtra (Āryamahāparinirvāṇanāmamahāyānasūtra, ’Phags pa yongs su mya ngan las ’das pa chen po’i mdo), D119, mdo sde, nya, 1b–ta 339a; D120, mdo sde, tha 1b–151a; D121, mdo sde, tha, 151a–152b.
Purity from Karmic Obscurations Sūtra (‘Phags pa las kyi sgrib pa rnam par dag pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo, Āryakarmāvaraṇaviśuddhināmamahāyānasūtra), D218, mdo sde, tsha, 284a–297b.
Secret Assembly Tantra (Sarvatathāgatakāyavākcittarahasyaguhyasamājanāmamahākalparāja, De bzhin gshegs pa thams cad kyi sku gsung thugs kyi gsang chen gsang ba ’dus pa zhes bya ba brtag pa’ i rgyal po chen po), D443, rgyud, ca, 90a–157b.
Sūtra of the Ornament of Appearances of the Primordial Mind (Āryasarvabuddhaviśayāvatā-rajñānālokālaṃkāranāmamahāyānasātra, ’Phags pa sangs rgyas thams cad kyi yul la ’jug pa’i ye shes snang ba’i rgyan ces bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo), D100, mdo sde, ga, 276a–305a.
Wheel of Time Tantra (Paramādibuddhoddhritaśr īkālacakranāmatantrarājā, Mchog gi dang po’ i sangs rgyas las phyung ba rgyud kyi rgyal po dpal dus kyi ’khor lo zhes bya ba), D0362, rgyud, ka 22b–128b.
Works by Indian and Tibetan authors
Asaṅga. Summary of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharmasamuccaya, Chos mngon pa kun las btus pa), D4053, sems tsam, li, 1a–117a.
Asaṅga. Summary of Mahāyāna (Mahāyānasaṃgraha, Theg pa chen po bsdus pa), D4048, sems tsam, ri, 1a–43a.
Asaṅga. Explanation of [Maitreya’s] ‘Sublime Continuum of Mahāyāna’ (Mahāyānottaratan- traśāstravyākhyā, Theg pa chen po’i rgyud bla ma’i bstan bcos kyi rnam par bshad pa). D4025, sems tsam, phi, 74b–129a.
Dharmakīrti. Commentary on Valid Cognition (Pramāṇavārttikakārikā, Tshad ma rnam ’grel gyi tshig le’ur byas pa). D4210, tshad ma, ce, 94b–151a.
Kun dga’ grol mchog (1975). Detailed Analysis of the Biography of the Great Paṇḍita Śākya Mchog Ldan (Paṇḍi ta chen po Ś;ākya Mchog Ldan gyi rnam par thar pa zhib mo rnam ’byed pa). Collected Works, Vol. 16. Thimphu, Bhutaṇ: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Maitreya, Ornament of Mahāyāna Sūtras (Mahāyānasūtrālạkāra, Theg pa chen po mdo sde’i 1622 rgyan), D4020, sems tsam, phi, 1a–39a.
Maitreya. (1966) Sublime Continuum of Mahāyāna (Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra, Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma). D4024, sems tsam, phi, 54b–73a. English translation in Takasaki, Jikido. A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga. Rome: Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente.
Nāgārjuna. Praise of the Dharma-Sphere (Dharmadhātustotra, Chos kyi dbyings su bstod pa). D1118, ka, 63b–67b.
Pundarīka. Stainless Light Commentary (Vimalaprabhā, Dri ma med pa’i ’od; the full title: Vimalaprabhānāmamūlatantrānusāriṇ īdvādaśasāhasrikālaghukālacakratantrarājaṭ īkā, Bsdus pa’i rgyud kyi rgyal po dus kyi ’khor lo’i ’grel bshad rtsa ba’i rgyud kyi rjes su ’jug pa stong phrag bcu pa bcu gnyis pa dri ma med pa’i ’od ces bya ba). D1347, rgyud ’grel, tha, 107b- da, 297a.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Answers to Objections to the ‘Establishment of the Original Buddha’ Text (Dang po’i sangs rgyas grub pa’i gzhung gi brgal lan). Collected Works, Vol. 13. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Answers to the Questions of Blo Mchog (Blo mchog pa’i dri lan). Collected Works, Vol. 17. Thimphu, Bhutaṇ Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Appearance of Reasoning Defeating Bad Systems: Commentary on Difficult Points of the Extensive Treatise ‘Commentary of Valid Cognition’ (Rgyas pa’i bstan bcos tshad ma rnam ’grel gyi dka’ ’grel rigs pa’i snang ba lugs ngan pham byed). Collected Works, Vol. 19. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Cleansing the Heart Darkness with the Appearance of the Sun of Definitive Meaning: Description of Realizations of the Glorious Being of Great Nature Honorable Ārya Nāgārjuna (Dpal bdag nyid chen po ’phags pa klu sgrub zhabs kyi rtogs pa brjod pa nges don nyin mor byed pa’i snang bas snying gi mun pa sangs byed). Collected Works, Vol. 16. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Drumming Sounds of Melodious Voice of Brahma: Refutation of Mistakes About Meditative Stages of the Great Middle and Explanation of the Tenets and Topics of the Views of Consequentialists and Autonomists (Dbu ma chen po’i sgom rim la’ khrul pa spong shing thal rang gi grub pa’i mtha’ dang lta ba’i gnas rnam par bshad pa tshangs pa’i dbyangs kyi rnga sgra). Collected Works, Vol. 4. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. Enjoyment Ocean of Scriptural Statements and Reasoning Differentiating One’s Own and Others’ Tenets: Explanation of Difficult Points of the ‘Ornament of Clear Realizations’ Treatise of the Quintessential Instructions on the Perfection of Wisdom Together With Its Commentaries (Shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa’i man ngag gi bstan bcos mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan ’grel pa dang bcas pa’i dka’ ba’i gnas rnams rnam par bshad pa rang gzhan gyi grub mtha’ rnam par dbye ba lung rigs kyi rol mtsho), Vol. 2
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Essence of Sūtras and Tantras: Explanation of the Buddha-essence (Sangs rgyas kyi snying po’i rnam bshad mdo rgyud snying po). Collected Works, Vol. 13. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Essence of the Ocean of Scriptural Doctrines: Condensation of Desiderata of General Meaning of the ‘Ornament of Clear Realizations’ with Its Commentaries (Mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan ’grel pa dang bcas pa’i spyi’i don nyer mkho bsdus pa lung chos rgya mtsho’i snying po). Collected Works, Vol. 3. Thimphu, Bhutaṇ Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Golden Spoon: a Resolved Abundant Discourse on the ‘Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes’ Treatise (Sdom gsum gyi rab tu dbye ba’i bstan bcos kyi ’bel gtam rnam par nges pa legs bshad gser gyi thur ma). Collected Works, Vol. 6–7. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Good Questions about the ‘Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes’ (Sdom gsum rab dbye la dri ba legs pa). Collected Works, Vol. 17. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Meaningful to Behold: Answers to the Questions of Spiritual Friend Mus Pa Rab ’Byams Pa (Bshes gnyen mus pa rab ’byams pa’i dri lan mthong ba don ldan). Collected Works, Vol. 23. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Ocean of Scriptural Statements and Reasoning: Treasury of Ascertainment of the Mahāyāna Madhyamaka (Theg pa chen po dbu ma rnam par nges pa’i bang mdzod lung dang rigs pa’i rgya mtsho). Collected Works, vols. 14–15. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Ocean of the Meaning of Scriptural Statements: Extensive Explanation of the Body and Branches of the Perfection of Wisdom Sūtras and the “Ornament of Clear Realizations’ Together With Commentaries (Shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa’i mdo dang mngon par rtogs pa’i rgyan ’grel dang bcas pa’i lus dang yan lag rgyas par bshad pa lung don rgya mtsho). Collected Works, Vol. 3. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Opening the Doors of the Chest of Gems: Treatise Elucidating the Stages of the Path of the Five Doctrines of Maitreya (Byams chos lnga’i lam gyi rim pa gsal bar byed pa’i bstan bcos rin chen sgrom gyi sgo ’byed). Collected Works, Vol. 11. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Rain of Ambrosia: Extensive [Auto-] Commentary on the ‘Profound Thunder amidst the Clouds of the Ocean of Definitive Meaning’ (Nges don rgya mtsho sprin gyi ’brug sgra zab mo’i rgyas ’grel bdud rtsi’i char ’bebs). Collected Works, Vol. 2. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Resolved Thorough Clarification or Thorough Clarification of the Definitive Meaning: Abundant Discourse Eliminating Qualms Issuing from the ‘Golden Spoon’ (Gser gyi thur ma las brtsams pa’i dogs gcod kyi ’bel gtam rab gsal rnam nges sam / nges don rab gsal). Collected Works, Vol. 17. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). Seventeen Wondrous Answers to The Questions of the Whole Monastic Community of Gzi Bsam ‘Grub Gling (Gzi bsam ’grub gling pa’i dge ’dun spyi’i dris lan ya mtshan bcu bdun pa). Collected Works, Vol. 23. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Śākya Mchog Ldan. (1975). The Sun Unseen Before: the Definitive Meaning of the ‘Sublime Continuum’ Treatise (Rgyud bla ma’i bstan bcos kyi nges don sngon med nyi ma). Collected Works, Vol. 13. Thimphu, Bhutan: Kunzang Tobgyey.
Sa skya Pandita Kun dga’ rgyal mtshan. (2002). Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes (Sdom pa gsum gyi rab tu dbye ba). Sa skya bka’ ’bum, Vol. 12 (na), 1a–48b. English translation by Rhoton, Jared Douglas. A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes: Essential Distinctions among the Individual Liberation, Mahāyāna, and Tantric Systems. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
Vajragarbha. Extensive Commentary on the ‘Condensed Meaning of the Hevajra Tantra’ (Hevajrapiṇḍārthaṭ īkā, Kye’i rdo rje bsdus pa’i don gyi rgya cher ’grel pa, D1180, ka, 1–126a).
Vajrapāni. Meaning Commentary on the Cakrasaṃvara Tantra (Lakṣābhidhanāduddhṛtalaghutantrapiṇḍārthavivaraṇa, Mngon par brjod pa ’bum pa las phyung ba nyung ngu’i rgyud kyi bsdus pa’i don rnam par bshad pa, D1402, ba, 78b–141a).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Komarovski, Y. Reburying the treasure—maintaining the continuity: Two texts by Śākya Mchog Ldan on the Buddha-essence. J Indian Philos 34, 521–570 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-006-9004-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-006-9004-2